Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson dead at 84 Civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson has passed away peacefully at age 84, his family confirmed Tuesday. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! I once ran into Rev. Jesse Jackson. Literally. It was either 2003 or 2004 at the NAACP Fort Lauderdale Freedom Fund Dinner . I was a high school student and a member of the NAACP Youth Council, running late — moving too fast across the parking lot, out of breath and worried about missing the